Topic 2 DQ 2
Hello Professor Derby and Class,
The benefits of a no-harm contract are more therapeutic in nature than being legally binding.
"Therapeutically, the contract affords an opportunity to initiate a therapeutic alliance,
establish the limits of the psycho-therapeutic framework, and reduce both patient and
clinician anxiety" (Stanford, Goetz, & Bloom, 1994). The contract seems to be more of an
accountability contract to help not only put the client's mind at ease, but to also give them a
sense of control when they feel like they don't have any. The contract gives them directions
on what to do when they are in a crisis so that they do not have to come up with solutions
while they are having irrational thoughts. Another possibility is if the client does not trust
themselves to not cause them harm, the counselor or case manager can use the no-harm
contract to give the client a reason to at least contemplate the implications of their actions if
they were to harm themselves.
Taylor
Stanford, E. J.; Goetz, R. R.; & Bloom, J. D. (1994). The No Harm Contract in the Emergency
Assessment of Suicidal Risk.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 55(8), 344-348.
Available
from
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8071303/#:~:text=Therapeutically%2C%20the
%20contract%20affords%20an,no%20suicide%20malpractice%20suit%20protection.
